I've got "a guy." He's a fixerWhen I've got a problem, I call him and he takes care of it. Simple. Clean. No fuss, no bother.Although I try not to spread it around, some people know about him. I'll admit, I like the status it brings.Suddenly people who didn't have any time for me come up and ask, "Hey, you really got 'a guy'?""Maybe, yeah," I say before I turn and walk away. Play the cards close to the chest. Keep 'em guessing. That's the best way to do it.See, there's a dearth of reliable contractors out there these days, especially guys who can do everything. Those who are good are simply too busy, so when you've found someone good, you've got take care of him and guard him jealously.I hate to say it, but Squamish tradesmen have long had a reputation for being less than reliable. A promise that "I'll show up tomorrow" is often more of a notion than a commitment.And it's not a new phenomenon. When my wife and I first moved to Squamish in 1990, we rented a duplex in the Highlands. We moved in to discover that the hot water heater was not working - a necessity when you have an 18-month-old child in cloth diapers.We called the property manager who promised that the guy would be up the next day. We waited all day without luck. The following day we called back."You're no longer in the big city," our property manager complained."It takes time in a small town.""Oh, I understand," I said. After all, I had just moved from the bustling metropolis of Antigonish, Nova Scotia.I don't know any homeowner who hasn't had what is sometimes referred to as "Squamish service."You know, the guy who promises to be there on Tuesday morning and doesn't show up or even call until maybe Thursday.Of course, this is a generalization and like all generalizations it ignores the reality. Most contractors and tradesmen are very good and very professional.But like all generalizations, this one holds more than a grain of truth too: there are many guys out there who know that homeowners are often at their mercy. It's a boom time for trades guys and they can pick and choose. If the customer doesn't like it, too bad.Recently I was telling my guy that he could probably double his rates and still be working as much as he wants."Yeah," he said, "but this boom isn't going to last forever, and I want to make sure I have clients when it does crash."So when a colleague approached a few weeks ago and asked, "Hey, I hear you got 'a guy'. Can you tell me who he is?"What else could I say: "Sure, I can tell you, but I'll have to kill you after."
